The beginning of the Swedish self-propelled wheeled howitzer Archer caliber 155 mm and with a barrel length of 52 calibers (hereinafter the same type designation 155/52) was laid in the mid-90s, when the company Bofors Defense (now BAE Systems Bofors) entered into a contract with the Defense Procurement Department to implement a technology demonstration program for the Swedish army. The prototype was a combination of artillery unit 155/45 from a towed Bofors FH-77B howitzer and a modified Volvo VME A25C 6x6 all-terrain chassis with a fully armored cabin to protect the crew and the engine compartment. After conducting extended tests in 1996, the Swedish army put forward a requirement for the security of the crew: the execution of the firing mission and the removal from the position should take place without leaving the cockpit. The modified prototype was equipped with a 24-round magazine, after which in 1999 it was returned to the artillery school for a new test cycle. In parallel with these demonstrations, the Army also conducted extensive testing of two 155mm tracked units - the PrH 2000 from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and the AS90 Braveheart from BAE Systems - before deciding that a wheeled solution was more economical.
At the end of 2003, Bofors received a contract from the Office for the production of two prototypes of the Archer Artillery System 08, testing of the first of which began in June 2005. Denmark, which became Sweden's first partner in the Archer project (the two countries planned to order 36 systems each), subsequently withdrew from it. A new participant was found in Norway, which in November 2008 signed a cooperation agreement with Sweden on the development of Archer, and in March 2010 BAE Systems Bofors received a contract to manufacture 24 units for each country. The Swedish army received its first pre-production platforms in September 2013. However, in December of the same year, Norway abandoned the purchase of the Archer SG, citing delays in the development schedule and expressing concerns about the platform's cross-country ability on difficult rough terrain. In September 2016, the Swedish government announced that it would buy 24 Archer howitzers originally planned for Norway for a total of 900 million Swedish kronor and transfer 12 units to the Swedish army, and offer 12 more to foreign customers.
The crew (calculation) includes a driver and three operators, who are accommodated in an armored cabin that provides protection in accordance with the requirements of "at least level 3 of the NATO standard STANAG 4569", as well as when a 6 kg mine is detonated under one of the wheels. The workstations are all the same, although the driver's workplace is naturally optimized for driving. In emergency situations, the task is carried out by the driver and one member of the Archer crew. An automated magazine for 20 rounds can handle all 155-mm shells not exceeding 1000 mm in length and 50 kg in weight. Another 20 shots are transported by car in a stowage for manual replenishment of the magazine. SG Archer can fire 20 rounds in 2.5 minutes, which corresponds to a rate of fire of 9 rounds per minute.
The Archer howitzer can fire long-range caliber projectiles with a bottom gas generator (type ERFB-BB) for a range of about 40 km and a high-precision active-rocket projectile M892 Excalibur for a range of about 60 km. For short-range defense, the Archer howitzers of the Swedish army are equipped with a Lemur remote-controlled combat module armed with a 12.7-mm machine gun, which is also developed and manufactured at the BAE Systems Bofors plant in the Swedish city of Karlskoga. The articulated chassis A30E from Volvo Construction Equipment reaches speeds of up to 70 km / h and has a cruising range of about 500 km. With a mass of about 30 tons, the Archer platform can be transported by an Airbus Military A400M military transport aircraft. Each Archer is accompanied by an Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) ammunition resupply vehicle, which is a modified standard container equipped with a lifting mechanism and mounted on an 8x8 armored truck of the German company Rheinmetall Man Military Vehicles (RMMV). Replenishment of ammunition takes about 10 minutes and this is the only process when the crew members leave the cockpit.
The first 24 systems ordered by Sweden were delivered to the only remaining artillery unit in the Swedish army Artitieriregementet 9 (artillery regiment 9) in 2016-2017. The regiment trains personnel for the 91st and 92nd artillery battalions, each of which is equipped with 12 Archer howitzers, organized into three batteries. The deployment of an additional 12 Archer howitzers, six of which were delivered at the end of 2019, will be announced in the 2021-2025 defense plan, slated for publication at the end of 2020. “With regard to the upcoming defense decision, which will take effect from 2021, it is extremely encouraging to see the growth of the Swedish armed forces. Growth that we have not seen until now. Among other things, the Defense Committee proposes to switch from two artillery battalions to six battalions and two artillery battle groups,”said the commander of the A9 artillery regiment.
International archer
In January 2020, BAE Systems Bofors began firing tests of the complete swinging part of the Archer gun carriage mounted on an RMMV HX2 8x8 off-road truck. The modular Archer system, first shown at the London DSEI exhibition in September 2019, according to the developer's plan, should increase the attractiveness of Archer for potential foreign customers, including the British army. It plans to purchase up to 135 wheeled platforms 155/52 MFP (Mobile Fire Platform) to replace the tracked self-propelled guns 155/39 AS90, which have been in operation since 1993. The choice of the International Archer on the RMMV HX chassis was obvious, since the British Army was the starting customer for the HX series and operates a fleet of more than 7,000 HX and SX series vehicles.
The characteristics of the artillery unit of the International Archer howitzer correspond to the characteristics of the Swedish Archer system. The Archer howitzer on the HX2 chassis can reach a speed of 90 km / h, and the fuel on board allows you to get a cruising range of up to 650 km. The cockpit provides three crew members with full protection from shrapnel, shells, mines, shock waves and weapons of mass destruction. According to a BAE Systems representative, this new international version of the Archer can be easily combined with a wide variety of chassis, allowing the customer to determine the best vehicle for his needs."
According to the British Army 2020 Refine modernization plan announced in 2016, four close support artillery regiments will be equipped with MFP systems to support two mechanized infantry and two new Strike brigades. In January 2020, the Department of Defense released the requirements for the MFP project. The concept of Strike brigades depends on a high level of strategic and tactical mobility, so the MFP system must be able to enter combat after a 520 km march within 24 hours. The cannon must be ready to fire 60 seconds after receiving a fire call and exceed the rate of fire of the AS90: burst three rounds in 10 seconds, intense fire 6 rounds per minute for three minutes, and a sustained rate of two rounds per minute for an hour. When firing with conventional shells, the MFP howitzer should reach a range of 30 km with a target range of 40 km. Accurate fire and increased range will be achieved by firing promising Tactical Guided Munition (Indirect) and High Explosive Base Bleed projectiles developed under the Close Fire Support program.
The initial decision on the MFP project is scheduled for 2021, the main decision for 2024, and the initial readiness of the equipment for combat use in 2026. Several more companies are interested in the MFP project: Nexter (offered by CAESAR). Elbit UK (ATMOS), Hanwha Defense (K9) and Kraus-Maffei Wegmann (RCH155 module installed on Boxer 8x8 armored vehicle).
Double wins for K9
Sweden's closest neighbors to the east and west - Finland and Norway - are currently deploying the K9 Thunder tracked self-propelled howitzers of the South Korean company Hanwha Defense, developed in the 90s to meet the needs of the Korean army for a system that would have a greater range, rate of fire and mobility. compared with the American 155-mm M109 system of local licensed production. The K9 system of 155 mm caliber and with a 52 caliber barrel is serviced by a crew of five people: commander, driver, gunner and two loaders. The artillery unit 155/52 of the local production of Hyundai WIA is taken as a basis. The rack in the tower niche holds 48 rounds of four different types. The high level of automation allows the K9 to fire three rounds in 15 seconds and 6 to 8 rounds in three minutes. The standard K9 howitzer is powered by the MTU MT 881 Ka-500 1000 hp engine. (750 kW) and hydropneumatic springs, which allows reaching a speed of 67 km / h and a cruising range of 360 km. The K9 system works in conjunction with the K10 ammunition transport vehicle, also based on the K9 chassis, which allows it to operate in the same battle formations as the K9 Thunder. This K10 vehicle carries 104 rounds, which are automatically transferred along a conveyor belt to a rack in the tower niche at a speed of 12 rounds per minute. For 2019, the South Korean army received 1,136 K9 howitzers and 179 K10 vehicles. By 2030, the army plans to upgrade its K9 fleet to the K9A1 standard.
In response to the needs of the Finnish army for 155-mm self-propelled guns, South Korea offered to supply used K9 from the presence of its army. Following an extended assessment of K9 howitzers in that country in November 2016, Finland signed an agreement worth $ 46 million for 48 K9 systems in February 2017. The contract also includes training, parts and service systems, and an option to purchase additional K9 systems.
Finland received the first K9Fin Moukari howitzer (blacksmith's hammer) for its army in 2018, and in September 2019, the Jaeger artillery regiment of the armored brigade (one of three high-readiness brigades) began training recruits selected to work on the K9, whose service will last 347 days. “The control subsystems and reliability of the K9 Thunder howitzer are well suited for training and operating recruits. Thanks to the powerful engine, automatic transmission and steering, work on the armored howitzer is greatly simplified. This means we can focus on safe but effective artillery preparation,”said artillery regiment commander Jaeger. In 2020, the Karelia regiment, which is part of the Karelia brigade (another of the three high-readiness brigades), will begin training personnel for work on the K9Fin howitzer.
In December 2019, the Norwegian army received its first K9 platforms, which are known there under the designation K9 Vidar (Versatile InDirect ARtillery system). Norway signed a contract with the South Korean company Hanwha in December 2017 for 24 new K9 howitzers and six K10 ammunition transport vehicles with an option for 24 additional K9 platforms. This decision follows a three-week evaluation in the harsh conditions of the Norwegian winter of four 155mm systems from different manufacturers: K9 Thunder from Hanwha, PzH2000 from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, CAESAR from Nexter and the upgraded M109 KAWEST platform from RUAG.
The first K9 systems were delivered to the Norwegian Army's weapons school, where training for crew commanders began in May 2020 and later in mid-2021, training courses for the remaining crew members will be organized for recruits. Before receiving their K9 howitzers, the Norwegian instructors gained valuable experience during training in Finland.
The artillery battalion of the North brigade (the only artillery unit in the country) is currently equipped with 18 M109A3GNM systems, but should be fully equipped with K9 howitzers by the end of 2021. “The most important thing is that we can get a long range. This means that we can put pressure on the enemy even before engaging in direct combat with the North brigade. The K9 howitzer also has significantly better mobility compared to the previous platform, - said a senior instructor at the School of Weapons at the ceremony of handing over the new K9 platforms. “These cannons are distinguished by a fully automated firing process, which greatly simplifies the work of calculations. When changing position, the system calculates a new course and data for shooting. This allows units to move faster than today's M109 systems.” Finnish and Norwegian K9 howitzers are equipped with auxiliary power units.
Caesar conquers Denmark
In January 2020, the first two self-propelled 155/52 CAESAR (CAmion Equipe d'un Systeme d'ARtillerie) 8x8 howitzers from Nexter Systems were delivered to Oksbol Camp, where the Danish artillery regiment is stationed. These two platforms were used for experimental shooting at the Swedish Karlskoge range in 2019, and will also undergo additional tests in 2020; in addition, they will train combat training instructors. The first CAESAR howitzers will be officially handed over to the regiment in mid-2020.
After Denmark left the Archer howitzer project, the search for the Danish army to replace its remaining M109A3 systems with 155/52 platforms was tortuous and not easy. In 2013, Denmark, after evaluative responses from 9 companies, invited Elbit Systems (offering its Soltam Autonomous Truck MOunted howitzer System, ATMOS), Hanwha (K9 Thunder) and Nexter (CAESAR 6x6) to apply for the supply of 9 to 21 platforms with the calculation that the contract will be issued before the end of 2014. Elbit was able to meet all the requirements and was selected for delivery, but the project was closed on April 30, 2015 in order to free up funds for a more urgent project. This cancellation caused quite a stir as the Danish Social Liberal Party opposed the award of the contract to an Israeli company in connection with Israel's policy towards Palestine.
A new competition was launched in December 2015, with seven companies applying to supply 15 systems with an option for six additional howitzers. The Soltam ATMOS and CAESAR howitzers again made it to the final in the second competition, although Nexter proposed a new version of the CAESAR 8x8 with several improvements over the 6x6 model that entered the first competition. In March 2017, the Danish government announced its intention to become the first customer for the CAESAR 8x8 system and in May 2017 awarded Nexter a contract for the supply of 15 platforms, with an option for six more, to begin shipping in the middle of this year. In October 2019, Denmark took the option and bought four more howitzers, bringing the total to 19. An additional four vehicles will be delivered in 2023.
Building on the success of the previous model CAESAR 6x6, which was sold to the French army and four foreign customers, Nexter presented the CAESAR 8x8 howitzer at Eurosatory 2016. Denmark opted for a platform from Czech company Tatra, which was shown at Eurosatory. although the system can be installed on a suitable 8x8 chassis from other manufacturers including Iveco, Renault, RMMV and Sisu. The CAESAR 8x8 howitzer weighs from 28 to 32 tons, depending on the configuration. Denmark has opted for an armored four-door cockpit offering Level 3 anti-bullet protection and Level 2 mine protection; it is also equipped with an air conditioning system and protection against weapons of mass destruction. The CAESAR 8x8 platform develops a speed of up to 90 km / h and has a power reserve of 600 km.
The CAESAR 8x8 howitzer is equipped with a computerized fire control system, a radar for measuring the initial velocity of a projectile and an inertial navigation system, which allows the crew to dismount and bring the gun into readiness in less than one minute. The ability to shoot back and quickly leave the position reduces the likelihood of falling under counter-battery fire. In the configuration for Denmark, the CAESAR 8x8 platform has 36 unitary rounds of ammunition compared to 18 rounds carried by the 6x6 variant. The Danish howitzers are equipped with a semi-automatic ammunition handling system, which can achieve a speed of six rounds per minute. Nexter also offers a fully automatic system, although this reduces the ammunition load to 30 rounds. The CAESAR howitzer can fire all NATO standard ammunition for barrels with a caliber of 39/52. Under a separate project, Denmark plans to purchase long-range high-precision guided ammunition in order to use all the capabilities of the new CAESAR 8x8 howitzers.
